Press

Press

Check out the latest updates from the Filson and outside media.

Filson Press Releases


Filson Statement on Public Higher Education Legislation

The Filson echoes the concerns of University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto and other leaders in higher education across Kentucky over pending legislation that would label the teaching of diverse and inclusive histories of the United States in public institutions of higher education as “divisive” or “discriminatory” concepts. As it did in 2022, the Filson […]

The Filson goes back to the 80s this February in 80s themed bash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It might be hip to be Square, but you’d be a total Dork to miss this rad party! Join the Filson Historical Society on Friday, February 23 at 6:30 pm for the “Back to the 80s Party,” a 1980s themed blast to the past. You’ll have plenty of time to dance the […]

The Filson to host Jonathan Eig as Gertrude Polk Brown Speaker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society will host the Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series on Tuesday, January 30 at 6:00 p.m. at The Kentucky Center – Bomhard Theater, featuring New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Eig’s book, King: A Life. Vividly written and exhaustively researched, Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life is the first major biography in […]

The Filson Historical Society Awards History Inspires Fellowships

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 History Inspires Fellowship (HIF). This unique program will allow artists to interpret the Filson’s collections with a creative filter. In recent years, the Filson has established relationships with regional artists, either through the artist’ donations of materials to its […]

The Filson announces opening of “Animals in the Archives”

LOUISVILLE, KY – In collaboration with the 2023 Louisville Photo Biennial, the Filson Historical Society is launching an exhibition featuring pet photography culled from the organization’s archives titled “Animals in the Archives.” The exhibit will be on display from September 8, 2023, through February 9, 2024. From the inception of photography, pets have been a […]

Filson in the News 


2024

Divya Karthikeyan, “On a West End tour bus, pride and reflections of Black history abound,” featuring Donovan Taylor, former Community History Fellow. Louisville Public Media, February 24, 2024

“The Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series – ‘King: A Life’,” Kentucky Monthly, January 20, 2024

2023

Jen Selinsky, “Local author explores the history of Waverley Hills,” News and Tribune, December 4, 2023

Tammy Talley, “Good Morning: Falls of the Ohio to host 20th anniversary celebration,Herald Bulletin, October 19, 2023

Tracy Heightchew, “Tracy Likes This One: Songs Between Others, Jewish Visions of Appalachia,” LEO Weekly, September 29, 2023

Filson Historical Society receives 2 posters of St. James Court Art Show for preservation,” WDRB News, September 6, 2023

Shaquille Lord, “Exhibit at Filson Historical Society honors work behind ‘Rosenwald schools’,” featuring the Filson’s Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis. WLKY 32, July 13, 2023

Sylvia Goodman, “Kentucky institutions begin to make progress repatriating Native American remains,” featuring the Filson’s Native American Collections Specialist, Kelly Hyberger, Louisville Public Media, June 12, 2023

Divya Karthikeyan, “Filson kicks off initiative to preserve Black history with Rosenwald schools exhibit,” Louisville Public Media, June 12, 2023

“From Bourbon to Bagels in Kentucky: Distilling Louisville’s Jewish history on a trip Across the JEW.S.A.,” featuring Filson Curator of Jewish Collections, Abby Glogower, Tablet Magazine, March 31, 2023

Sherlene Shanklin, “Kentucky World War II veteran, hatmaker documented her life through scrapbook,” featuring the Filson’s Community Engagement Specialist, Emma Bryan. WHAS 11, March 10, 2023

Sherlene Shanklin, “‘A very diverse, crazy place’: The history behind West Louisville’s racetrack, Miles Park: The history behind west Louisville’s Miles Park racetrack,” featuring Filson Volunteer, Steve Zollner, WHAS 11, February 20, 2023

Dawne Gee, “Chickasaw neighborhood sharing its history through a book,” featuring 2022 Filson Community History Fellow, Cheri Bryant Hamilton, WAVE 3, February 8, 2023

Sophia Lee, “Black, gay publication gives visibility to Louisville’s West End through authentic storytelling,” featuring 2022 Filson Community History Fellow, Talesha Wilson, Queer Kentucky, January 30, 2023

Kevin Gibson, “‘Olde England on the Ohio’ Celebrates Louisville’s Perspective on the Tudor Revival,” Kevin Gibson Writer blog, January 23, 2023

2022

Kirby Adams, “Here’s a sneak peek at the 2022 St. James Court Art Show ‘A Sense of Place’ print,” Courier-Journal, September 1, 2022

Gretchen Hunt, “City leaders, partners celebrate Women’s Equality Day Aug. 27 at the Filson,” Courier-Journal, August 25, 2022

Grace McKenna, “In Your Backyard | The ‘spotted’ history Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood,” featuring Vice President, Julie James and Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, WHAS 11, August 7, 2022

Stephanie Wolf, “The backstory on Benedictine, a Derby-adjacent sandwich spread,” featuring Associate Curator of Collections, Jana Meyer, WFPL, May 3, 2022

Richard H. C. Clay, “New book explores 4 myths about slavery outlined in ‘My Old Kentucky Home.’ Why it matters,” Courier-Journal, April 27, 2022

Erika Rucker, “Upcoming Filson Exhibit Explores ‘Louisville’s Lost Architecture’,” Leo Weekly, April 13, 2022

The American Institute of Architects, “Owsley Brown II History Center selected by AIA as recipient of 2022 Architecture Award,” February 15th, 2022

Richard H. C. Clay, Patrick A. Lewis and John Stern, Opinion Contributors, “Filson Historical Society: To explore and question our past services our future | Opinion,” Courier-Journal, February 14, 2022

Erika Rucker, “The Filson Obtains Items From A Pioneering Black Louisville Educator, Creates Scholarship In Her Name,” Leo Weekly, January 24, 2022

The Notebook Issue 15, Highlighted the Filson’s Kentucky Covid-19 Poster Project and its Artists, A New Vision of Health, January 7, 2022

Emma Johansen, “Metadata as restorative justice: a case study of the Sanders-Bullitt digital collection” Part I, Part II. NCPH.org, December 30, 2021 and January 6, 2022

WHAS 11, This Month in History Series, 2021 

February – Rose McBride, “Old Kentucky State Penitentiary’s role in Underground Railroad,” featuring Manuscripts Cataloger, James Prichard, WHAS 11, February 6, 2021 

March – Rose McBride, “Showcasing the working women of Kentucky in the 19th, 20th centuries,” featuring Director of Collections Access, Jennie Cole, WHAS 11, March 7, 2021  

April – Rose McBride, “Louisville woman tells her story of the Civil Rights movement,” WHAS 11, April 18, 2021 

May – Rose McBride, “The Filson Historical Society celebrates 137 year anniversary,” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, WHAS 11, May 16, 2021 

June – Rose McBride, “What is the history of Juneteenth, our newest federal holiday?” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, WHAS 11, June 19, 2021 

July – Rose McBride, “A closer look at Louisville Fresh Air Camps,” featuring Director of Collections Access, Jennie Cole, WHAS 11, July 18, 2021 

August – Rose McBride, “The 1887 Jennie Bowman murder trial,” featuring Manuscript Cataloger, James Prichard, WHAS 11, August 8, 2021 

October – Rob Harris, “LGBTQ History Month | A look back at the first Lesbian marriage case in United States history,” featuring Collections Assistant, Emma Johansen, WHAS 11, October  24, 2021

November – Rob Harris, “Rare photograph shows history of military in Kentucky,” featuring Curator of Photographs and Prints, Heather Potter, WHAS 11, November 11, 2021

2021 

Emma Johansen, “Metadata as restorative justice: a case study of the Sanders-Bullitt digital collection—Part I,” History @ Work, The National Council on Public History Blog, December 30, 2021

Dawne Gee, “Wave Country, Filson Historical Society,” featuring Community Engagement Specialist, Emma Bryan, WAVE 3, October 20, 2021

WLKY Digital Team, “Congressman Yarmuth announces more than $500,00 in funding for 3 Louisville institutions”  WLKY News, October 4, 2021

Haeli Spears, “Louisville museums, Filson Historical Society get boost from ARP fundsSpectrum News 1, October 4, 2021

Maggie Jones, “On a Kentucky Riverbank, A Path to Remembrance,” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, The New York Times, June 9, 2021 

Alex Horton, “Army continues to honor Confederate unit histories, even as base names draw scrutiny,” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, The Washington Post, March 11, 2021 

Jordan Culver, “A bust of the lone Black adventurer in the Lewis and Clark expedition mysteriously appeared in an Oregon park. Who was York?” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, USA Today, March 7, 2021 

Dawne Gee, “Finding your voice, fighting for equality: The Story of Dinnie Thompson,” featuring Director of Collections Access, Jennie Cole, WAVE 3, March 1, 2021 

2020 

Bob Hill, “Heroes or losers? History shows Trump’s rise and failure a familiar story,” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, Leo Weekly, December 2, 2020 

Ian Bateson, “Is There a Place for the President of the Confederacy?” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, The New York Times, October 8, 2020

Chris Sutter, “Historians share the turbulent journey of slavery in Kentucky” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, WDRB, June 28, 2020 

2019 

Pam Platt, “Louisville honoring trailblazing sculptor who broke the mold for women,” featuring Curator of Photographs and Prints, Heather Potter, Courier-JournalJune 20, 2019 

Ashlie Stevens, “Curious Louisville: Who Were The Caldwell Sisters?” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, 89.3 WFPL, April 5, 2019 

Ashlie Stevens, “Curious Louisville: What Was Old Louisville Called Before It Was ‘Old?’,” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, 89.3 WFPL, March 5, 2019